Two actors find love Chae Gook-hee (in circle) and Oh Dal-su from movie "Veteran" (2015)Seasoned actors Oh Dal-su and Kim Ha-gyun opened the New Year with reports of romance.Oh, 47, whose nickname is“10 million fairy” because his past seven movies each had sold more than 10 million tickets, is reportedly dating actress Chae Gook-hee, 46, actress Chae Shi-ra’s younger sister.Sports Seoul newspaper said the romance between Oh and Chae had long been known in the film sector. The two met in 2008 starring together in a play. They also appeared together in the 2012 action movie “The Thieves.”Quoting an insider, the report said the two frequently joined friends at casual meetings, and they had a lot in common because of their occupation.Oh’s management company, Star Village Entertainment, hasn’t confirmed the romance yet. Debuting in 1990 as a stage actor, Oh is one of the most popular supporting stars.Chae made her debut in 1994 in a musical and broadened her career to TV and movies.Kim Ha-gyun from TV dramas Kim, 57, another popular supporting actor on Jan 4, 2016
New 'Youth Over Flowers' goes to Iceland Cast members of “Youth Over Flowers: Iceland” pose during a press conference at a hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Dec. 29, 2015. From left are actors Jung Woo, Kang Ha-neul, Jung Sang-hoon and Jo Jung-suk. / Courtesy of CJ E&MBy Kim Jae-heunThe third season of “Youth Over Flowers” on CJ E&M’s cable channel tvN recorded a viewership rate of 9.1 percent on its New Year’s Day premiere. It’s the highest record for the debut of any cable TV entertainment show.The latest season of the show chose Iceland as the ultimate travel destination, where four celebrities in their 30s search for “god’s gift,” the Northern Lights.Produced and directed by star TV variety-show veteran Na Young-seok, it casts top actors Jo Jung-suk, Jung Woo, Jung Sang-hoon and Kang Ha-neul. The four shared a long life of anonymity together until a recent rise to stardom.“I did not intend to cast the current four members,” said Na during a press conference at Imperial Palace Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Dec. 29, 2015. “I happened to Jan 4, 2016
Apink readies for North America tour Apink / Screen capture from Facebook K-pop band Apink will begin its North American tour this month, A-Cube Entertainment said Monday.Beginning in Vancouver, Canada, on Tuesday, the band will play in Dallas on Jan. 6, San Francisco on Jan.9, and Los Angeles on Jan. 9.Apink is a K-pop girl band with six members _ Park Cho-rong, Yoon Bo-mi, Jung Eun-ji, Kim Nam-joo, Son Na-eun and Oh Ha-young.The band made its debut with “You Don’t Know,” in 2011, and rose to stardom with a hit song “NoNoNo” in 2013. Jan 4, 2016By Bahk Eun-ji
Comebacks, webtoons complete 2016 drama line-up Lee Young-ae will star as Shin Saimdang, artist, poet and mother of Confucian scholar Yulgok, in “Saimdang, the Herstory” later this year. / Korea TimesBy Kwon Ji-younActresses Kim Hye-soo, Lee Young-ae and Song Hye-kyo are set to make long-awaited comebacks, broadcasters are turning more webtoons into television series and JTBC is looking to turn crisis into opportunity with Han Ye-seul’s newest romantic comedy in this year’s drama lineup.Kim, 45, will be a detective in tvN’s “Signal,” her first dramatic appearance in three years. “Signal” is scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings starting Jan. 22, after the curtain falls on “Reply 1988.”In her cable debut, she will star alongside actor Lee Je-hoon, best known for his role in the 2012 film “Architecture 101,” and Cho Jin-woong, named Best Actor in film at last year’s Baeksang Arts Awards. Kim and Cho who are investigators and Lee, a profiler, work together on a case that trenscends time. Han Ye-seul will also be returning to the small screenJan 4, 2016
IU, Lee Joon-gi to star in new TV drama IU, Lee Joon-gi /Korea Times fileSinger IU will star in a new drama “Moon Lovers” with top male actor Lee Joon-gi.“Moon Lovers” is a remake version of the Chinese drama “Bu Bu Jing Xin,” which aired in 2011 in China.The fantasy-romantic drama is about the fourth son of Emperor Wang Geon in the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392), and a girl who is accidentally sent from the 21st century.Lee will play the fourth son, who becomes Goryeo’s fourth Emperor Gwangjong (949-975), and IU will play Hae-soo, the girl who time-travels to the kingdom.The drama will air in the second half of the year. Jan 4, 2016By Bahk Eun-ji
Leessang's Gary tops Baidu Chart in China /Screen capture from WeiboA new song from rapper Gary, a member of hip-hop duo Leessang, topped the Baidu King Chart on Monday.Gary uploaded captured images of the chart on his Weibo page, saying, “Omg! Thank You! Hen xiexie.”Gary is also on the SBS entertainment program “Running Man,” which is highly popular in China and other parts of Asia.In the image, the song “Lonely Night” is at 86.1 points on the chart.Gary said he wrote the song after watching the popular TV drama “Misaeng”(2014).Jan 4, 2016By Bahk Eun-ji
Suzy and Baekhyun to release duet track /Courtesy of Mystic EntertainmentK-pop stars miss A’s Suzy and boy band EXO’s Baekhyun will release a duet track “Dream,” at midnight on Jan. 7.Producer Park Geun-tae suggested they record a song together. Although Park may be unfamiliar to the public, he has produced many hits, including Eco’s “Happy Me,” Brown Eyed Soul’s “Did We Really Love?”and Baek Ji-young’s “I Won’t Love.”Suzy’s JYP Entertainment and Baekhyun’s SM Entertainment accepted the suggestion because of their trust in the producer. The track is a pop and R&B song infused with jazz and neo-soul sounds.Lyricist Kim Ea-na wrote the lyrics for “Dream,” which is about a man and woman in love. Jan 4, 2016
Comedian confesses romance on live TV Jang Dong-min, left, and Navi from tvN's "Bangsipop" on Thursday / Courtesy of tvNComedian Jang Dong-min has revealed his romance with singer Navi on a live TV show.Jang, one of three hosts of tvN variety show “Bangshipop” on Thursday, confessed to the relationship with Navi, who sat next to him.The romance was revealed after the other four celebrities on the show said they heard rumors that Jang and Navi were seen dining together privately.They demanded to know whether the couple were romantically involved.Jang first struggled for words and looked nervous.Then he grabbed her hand and raised it, saying, “We are seeing each other.”The singer clearly did not expect him to reveal their romance and covered her face with her hand.“This may be the first time in Korean TV history that a celebrity has broken news of a romance on a live TV show,” said one of the hosts, Lee Sang-min.Jan 3, 2016
At last, star shows he's got what it takes Hwang Kwang-hee / Courtesy of InstagramSinger-TV personality Hwang Kwang-hee, the latest addition to MBC variety show “Infinity Challenge,” has largely earned nothing but criticism for his poor performances as an entertainer.But he finally broke the curse on Saturday.Hwang, from boy band ZE:A, was the most impressive in the episode, in which five members of the reality-based show played cat-and-mouse with Busan police, posing as fugitives trying to escape the port city in a helicopter.Hwang failed to escape but outran other members of the show by being the only one to reach the helicopter, where he was eventually caught.The catch-me-if-you-can episode was the first featuring Hwang, 27. He delivered the most thrills and fun as he astutely escaped the police and stayed low. Since he joined the long-running variety show in April, he has been savagely criticized for being “irritating to watch” and “not good enough to replace Noh Hong-chul and Gil Seong-joon,” past members of the show, who left in 2014 after they were caught driving under theJan 3, 2016
Science prodigy TV drama rates well "Jang Yeong-sil" poster / Courtesy of KBS Song Il-gook as Jang Yeong-sil The first episode of KBS TV drama “Jang Yeong-sil,” about the nation’s first science prodigy Jang Yeong-sil from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), recorded an 11 percent Nielsen rating on Saturday.The drama depicts Jang’s childhood, when he started showing outstanding interest ability in science.But he could not follow his dream because of his low status as a peasant.Even before the screening, the drama had aroused nationwide interest because it featured Song Il-gook, who starred in “Jumong” (2006-2007) and “A Man called God” (2010).Jang, one of the most famous historical figures in Korean history, invented astronomical instruments that showed the positions of the sun, moon and stars.He also invented a water clock, a sundial, a rain gauge and more during the King Sejong era.Media reports say the drama is “lightweight and fun to watch” because it is “not so grim and dry as past K-dramas based on history.”Jan 3, 2016
